Webbed Sports Gloves

ABSTRACT

A narrow section of webbing is integrated into the construction of each of the two gloves in a pair, webbing that is positioned between the thumb and index finger of each glove. The flexible webbing allows for a full range motion for the thumb of the glove while providing an expanded catching surface between the thumb and index finger that was not previously available. When utilized alone or as a pair, the webbing on each of the two gloves provides a significantly increased catching surface for a ball that is received into the hands, especially between the two hands of the receiver. Various types of flexible materials may be used for the webbing and include stretchable net material and/or material that incorporates increased friction grip surfaces similar to the types of adherence materials already typically used on receiver&#39;s gloves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to gloves and other coverings for the human hand. The present invention relates more specifically to gloves utilized in connection with the play of sports involving the catching and handling of game balls.

2. Description of the Related Art

A number of sports activities involve the catching, throwing, and handling of sports balls during the play of outdoor or indoor games. A very popular sport that exemplifies this type of ball handling game is American football. A typical play in the game of American football involves the passing of the football from the quarterback to a receiver (a number of positions may be designated as receivers under the rules). The successful completion of a pass to a receiver depends in part upon a receiver carefully securing the ball with the hands before thereafter advancing the ball during the continuation of the play. Failure to adequately secure the ball results in an incomplete pass which is detrimental to the forward progress of the team in possession of the ball.

Receivers in American football have for some time now utilized gloves with grip surfaces that facilitate the catching and secure retention of the football during a pass play. American football rules at different levels of play typically allow for such gloves to be worn by the receivers so as to prevent, or attempt to prevent, the slippage of the football through the hands, or from the hands, of the receiver during an attempted pass reception. A wide variety of grip surfaces are known in the art to facilitate the retention of the ball once within the receiver's hands. The present invention is directed less to a particular grip surface material on a receiver's glove, and more to a webbing structure that provides an additional surface area against which the ball may be at least partially captured.

It would therefore be desirable to have a pair of receiver gloves that not only provide a contact grip surface that facilitates securing the game ball, but an additional structure that effectively expands the catch and/or grip area of the hand within the glove to further facilitate reception and retention of the ball. Ultimately, the receiver must rely upon the accurate placement of their hands around the ball in order to adequately secure it to carry it forward with the pass play. American football rules would typically not allow, for example, a receiver to wear a large mitt such as is utilized in baseball where the skill involved in catching the ball is simply the appropriate positioning of the baseball glove or mitt. Rather it would be important to have receiver gloves for American football, and for similar sports, where a very modest change in the structure of the glove is permitted that further facilitates retention of the ball when an attempt is being made to catch the ball. It would be desirable if such modifications to the receiver's gloves added little or no significant weight to the glove, and yet could expand upon the improved friction grip surfaces already utilized in conjunction with receiver's gloves. It would be an additional benefit if the improvement features facilitated the expansion of team logos or other display elements in connection with existing logos and display elements typically positioned on the back and front of receiver's gloves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In fulfillment of the above and further objectives, the present invention provides improvements to the typical sports ball receiver's pair of gloves. A narrow section of webbing is integrated into the construction of each of the two gloves in a pair, webbing that is positioned between the thumb and index finger of each glove. The flexible webbing allows for a full range of motion for the thumb of the glove while providing an expanded catching surface between the thumb and index finger that was not previously available. When utilized alone or as a pair, the webbing on each of the two gloves provides a significantly increased catching surface for a ball that is received into the hands, especially between the two hands of the receiver. Various types of flexible materials may be used for the webbing and include stretchable net material and/or material that incorporates increased friction grip surfaces similar to the types of adherence materials already typically used on receiver's gloves. Other features and variations of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description and the appended drawings, and which are set forth with more specificity in the numbered claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of a pair of ball receiver gloves implementing the structures of the present invention, shown in connection with a typical sports ball (American football as an example).

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a right hand (RH) glove implementing the glove web structure of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a detailed perspective view of a first preferred structure for the web mesh and glove web of the present invention shown implemented on a right hand (RH) glove.

FIG. 3B is a detailed perspective view of a second preferred structure for the web mesh and glove web of the present invention shown implemented on a left hand (LH) glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made first to FIG. 1 for a description of the overall configuration of a pair of ball receiver gloves that implement the structures of the present invention. Receiver gloves 10 shown in FIG. 1 included left hand (LH) glove 12 a and right hand (RH) glove 12 b. References in the appended drawings, where the structures on one glove of the pair are mirrored on the other glove of the pair, are generally identified as elements a & b for a specific mirrored structure. Also seen in FIG. 1 in broken line form is an end view of a typical sports ball 30 that is in the process of being caught by the receiver wearing receiver gloves 10. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in connection with gloves and balls typically used in the game of American football, a wide variety of other sports that involve the handling of sports balls may benefit from the same, or similar, glove structures as described herein.

In FIG. 1, sports ball 30 is shown to be centered between the hands of the receiver wearing left hand (LH) glove 12 a and right hand (RH) glove 12 b. Each of the two gloves, mirror images of each other, incorporates securement bands 14 a & 14 b that are typically used to attach the respective gloves to the receiver's hands at the wrist. Glove bodies 16 a & 16 b are constructed in a manner typical for existing receiver gloves. The important components of gloves 12 a & 12 b for purposes of the present invention are glove thumbs 18 a & 18 b as well as glove index fingers 20 a & 20 b.

Extending between the lower half of glove thumbs 18 a & 18 b and the lower half of glove index fingers 20 a & 20 b are glove webs 22 a & 22 b. The size of glove webs 22 a & 22 b is such that the addition does not significantly change the basic size and construction of glove bodies 16 a & 16 b. In fact, when the hand of the wearer is closed, as in a fist, the glove web component completely disappears and does not represent an increase in the size (shape or weight) of the receiver's glove. Only when the hands are extended as shown in FIG. 1, with the glove thumbs 18 a & 18 b separated from the glove index fingers 20 a & 20 b, will glove webs 22 a & 22 b open and extend to facilitate the catching of ball 30.

Reference is next made to FIG. 2 which provides greater detail on the construction of one of the two receiver gloves 10 shown in FIG. 1. In this case, right hand (RH) glove 12 b is shown in greater detail. Once again, it will be recognized that left hand (LH) glove 12 a is a mirror image of right hand (RH) glove 12 b. Right hand (RH) glove 12 b once again incorporates securement band 14 b that prevents the glove from being easily removed from the receiver's hand. Securement band 14 b may typically be a pull strap with a buckle, or more commonly a Velcro® type strap that tightens around the wrist of the wearer. Glove body 16 b is again configured in a manner quite similar to existing football receiver's gloves that present a typically breathable back surface to the glove body and a typically high friction grip surface to the front face of the glove body. Once again, the important glove components for purposes of the present invention are glove thumb 18 b and glove index finger 20 b.

Extending between the base portions of glove thumb 18 b and glove index finger 20 b is glove web 22 b. In the additional detail shown in FIG. 2, glove web 22 b is seen to be constructed from web mesh 32 b surrounded on all edges by either web outer edge 34 b or by the seams with which it is attached to glove body 16 b. In the preferred embodiment, glove web 22 b is attached to glove body 16 b at the proximal half of glove index finger 20 b and the proximal half of glove thumb 18 b. Web thumb seam reinforcement 36 b and web finger seam reinforcement 38 b secure the edge of glove web 22 b into the construction of the typical receiver's glove. In the preferred embodiment web outer edge 34 b is constructed of a more rugged band, cord, or other edging material, since it is this edge that repeatedly encounters, and must receive the force of, the ball in flight as it is being caught. Likewise, although web mesh 32 b may be relatively light and flexible, the manner of its securement to the thumb and index finger components of the glove may require reinforcement or additional stitching as shown in FIG. 2 with thumb seam reinforcement 36 b and finger seam reinforcement 38 b.

As indicated above, a variety of different construction materials may be used to create the glove web that extends between the thumb and index finger of the glove. FIGS. 3A & 3B provide two alternate types of materials for use in the construction of the glove web. FIG. 3A represents an open mesh material while FIG. 3B provides a closed surface that may incorporate the friction grip surface materials of the type typically used on the face of a receiver's glove.

Referring first to FIG. 3A, glove web 22 b is shown to be constructed of web mesh 32 b bordered on its outer edge with web edge cord 39 b. As indicated above it is preferable that the outer exposed edge of glove web 22 b be structured from a more durable band or cord, preferably elastic, that stands up to repeated contact with the ball as it is being caught. With a strong and rugged web edge cord 39 b, web mesh 32 b need not itself be overly rugged as the force of the ball in flight is reduced by its initial contact with web edge cord 39 b.

As indicated above, it is preferable for the interior edges of glove web 22 b, and more specifically for the points of attachment of web mesh 32 b to glove 12 b, to have reinforcement seams provided along the entire interior curve of the glove extending down the lower half of the thumb and up the lower half of the index finger. As shown in FIG. 3A this reinforcement comprises a continuous material that may be additional layers of sewn edging that attach both to web mesh 32 b and the materials that make up glove thumb 18 b and glove index finger 20 b. These additional layers of reinforcing material may be sewn into the glove along or within the same seam that typically connects the face of the glove to the back of the glove. In this manner all edges of glove web 22 b are reinforced either by their attachment to the glove or with the leading outer edge of the glove web incorporating a strong edge band or cord.

FIG. 3B provides for an additional feature and an alternative structure for the glove web of the present invention. As indicated above, typical American football receivers' gloves already incorporate a palm and finger surface material that increases the grip friction and adherence of the ball to the glove when it is being caught. A variety of soft rubber-like materials may be utilized to improve the grip of the glove on the ball. FIG. 3B discloses that this same type of grip material may be incorporated onto the glove web to further facilitate the function of securing the ball during a catch. In FIG. 3B left hand glove 40 a again incorporates glove index finger 50 a and glove thumb 48 a. Extending between the lower portions of these two parts of the glove is glove web 42 a. It is again preferable that the outer edge of glove web 42 a incorporate a more rugged element in the form of web edge cord 54 a. It is also important that this glove web structure shown in FIG. 3B utilize the same web thumb seam reinforcement 46 a and web finger seam reinforcement 44 a.

The difference in the structure shown in FIG. 3B lies in web mesh 52 a which in the preferred embodiment remains a flexible fabric-like material. The additional feature of web mesh 52 a is that it incorporates on the palm side the same material that is used to facilitate the receiver's grip on the ball, again as is currently utilized with American football receiver gloves. In order to maintain the flexibility of the glove as required for free movement of the thumb and index finger, the amount of grip material placed on the palm surface of glove web 42 a may need to be reduced from that on the balance of the glove. In the preferred embodiment the grip or friction-increasing surface may be checkered or dot spaced across the palm-side surface of the webbing in a manner that allows glove web 42 a to remain flexible while still providing an additional surface area onto which the game ball may make contact.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a number of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain modifications to the preferred embodiments may be implemented for use with a variety of different outdoor sports that involve the handling of game balls. Such modifications that are specific to the type of game ball being utilized are still considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Variations on the choice of materials from which the components of the present invention are constructed are also anticipated. As indicated initially, the surface area of the glove web component added to the basic receiver gloves may serve the additional purpose of increasing the surface area onto which team logos and other display elements may be placed. The flexibility of the glove web in connection with the visual display elements on its surface provides yet another desirable feature to the wearing of the glove beyond simply the facilitation of catching and handling the game ball. 

1. A pair of gloves for facilitating the handling of sports balls during the play of a sporting event or game, the pair of gloves comprising a right hand glove and a left hand glove, each of the gloves comprising: a glove body with a thumb member and a plurality of finger members; a sheet of flexible material extending between the thumb member of the glove body and at least one of the finger members of the glove body; and edge reinforcement elements positioned around the sheet of flexible material to secure the to the glove body and to provide a reinforced outer edge to the glove sheet of flexible material; wherein an individual wearing the pair of gloves and holding the left hand proximate to the right hand forms an opening between the hands bordered by the sheets of flexible material in a manner that facilitates the catching of a sports ball between the hands.
 2. The pair of gloves of claim 1 wherein the sheet of flexible material on each glove extends between the thumb member of the glove body and an index finger member of the glove body.
 3. The pair of gloves of claim 2 wherein the sheet of flexible material on each glove comprises an inner attached edge connected to the glove body and an outer peripheral edge, the outer peripheral edge extending from a point on the thumb member of the glove body to a point on the index finger member of the glove body.
 4. The pair of gloves of claim 3 wherein the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of flexible material extends from a point approximately mid-way along the thumb member of the glove body to a point approximately mid-way along the index finger member of the glove body.
 5. The pair of gloves of claim 3 wherein the inner attached edge of the sheet of flexible material is sewn into a seam of the glove body between front and back panel sections of the glove body.
 6. The pair of gloves of claim 1 wherein the sheet of flexible material on each glove comprises an open mesh material.
 7. The pair of gloves of claim 1 wherein the sheet of flexible material on each glove comprises a closed surface material.
 8. The pair of gloves of claim 7 wherein the sheet of flexible material on each glove further comprises one or more areas of friction grip surface materials.
 9. The pair of gloves of claim 3 wherein the edge reinforcement elements on each glove comprise a first element extending along the inner attached edge connected to the glove body and a second element extending along the outer peripheral edge.
 10. The pair of gloves of claim 9 wherein the inner attached edge of the sheet of flexible material and the first edge reinforcement element on each glove are together sewn into a seam of the glove body between front and back panel sections of the glove body.
 11. The pair of gloves of claim 9 wherein the second edge reinforcement element on each glove comprises an edge cord integrated into the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of flexible material.
 12. The pair of gloves of claim 11 wherein the edge cord on each glove comprises an elastic material.
 13. The pair of gloves of claim 11 wherein the edge cord on each glove further comprises one or more areas of friction grip surface materials.
 14. The pair of gloves of claim 9 wherein the second edge reinforcement element on each glove comprises an edge band sewn onto the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of flexible material.
 15. The pair of gloves of claim 14 wherein the edge band on each glove comprises an elastic material.
 16. The pair of gloves of claim 14 wherein the edge band on each glove further comprises one or more areas of friction grip surface materials.
 17. The pair of gloves of claim 3 wherein the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of flexible material on each glove comprises a concave curved edge.
 18. The pair of gloves of claim 1 wherein each of the gloves are structured as American football receiver's gloves. 